Poll finds support for nude beach

February 23, 2004|by LAURA ERNDE

ANNAPOLIS - A poll last week showed nudes beating prudes in the battle over whether to allow naked sunbathing on Assateague Island.

About 48 percent of Marylanders said they would support a nude beach in a well-marked and isolated area of Assateague, while 40 percent were opposed, according to a Gonzales Research and Marketing Strategies poll. The rest were undecided.

In Western Maryland, nude sunbathing was less acceptable, with 51 percent opposed; about 44 percent thought it would be OK.

The American Association for Nude Recreation has begun lobbying lawmakers on the issue this year, even though there is no proposed legislation.

Lobbyist Don Murphy, a Republican who championed the medical marijuana issue when he was in the House of Delegates, said many lawmakers privately are open to the idea, but need time to get comfortable with going public.